BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 965

By: González, Mary

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that since the language used to refer to members of various communities may shape social attitudes toward those groups, statutes should be periodically updated to ensure the use of respectful and inclusive language. H.B. 965 provides for these updates with regard to language used in the Education Code to refer to people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 965 amends the Education Code to make nonsubstantive updates to references to certain terms used to describe persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities and to certain former health services state agencies and the Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.